Good to hear from all the other vegetarians and vegans out there. I've been vegan for 5 years, vegetarian for 5 before that, and generally really like how it makes me feel.

I've read some pro-vegan books that basically tell you not to worry about protein consumption, calcium intake, and B12 intake. I tried that strategy for quite a few years, and then - to make a long story short - I realized that I do have to pay attention to those things. Maybe it wasn't such a big deal when I wasn't riding and placing those extra demands on my body, but now that I am I need to make sure I'm eating my 50+ grams of protein every day, getting calcium from food & supplements, and taking my B12 supplement.

I've also learned that it's convenient for those wanting to lose weight to use veganism as way to avoid calorie-dense food. Which is totally valid, as long as you're being rational rather than obsessive about it. Veganism can be a really meaningful expression of ethical relationship among living beings, when it's done mindfully and humbly. When it's done in a knee-jerk way, it can be just another "food rule" that doesn't bring clarity at all.

Did that make any sense?